Essential Guide to Hiking in the United States

Rating:
Summary: This is a reference book.
Review: If you're looking for great prose, go elsewhere. This is not a criticism, for the similarity in description makes it easy to compare places within and among states.

The descriptions of the parks and forests follow such a similar pattern that the whole thing would have been presented more efficiently as a series of charts.

I found the long-distance trails to be the most useful information, because it's hardest to find elsewhere.

I bought this book when it first appeared, and just came back hoping for an update. Many of the phone numbers are no longer valid, in part because of the proliferation of area codes. It would be nice to have the long-distance trail information updated, as well as an update on trail usage in the parks and newer, longer lists of other reading sources.

Essential is an accurate description.

Rating:
Summary: Great for finding all/most of the hiking options in an area!
Review: This provides a state by state listing of hiking areas, the governing bodies (and their addresses!), a listing of the best hiking areas and trails and a description of the areas and the wildlife/flora to be found. It's a wonderful resource for the beginning planning stages of a trip, and has proven to be very accurate.